N04004:263
Some thoughts concerning the present revival of religion in New-England, and the way in…
Some thoughts concerning the present revival of religion in New-England, and the way in which it ought to be acknowledged and promoted, humbly offered to the public, in a treatise on that subject. : In five parts; Part I. Showing that the work that has of late been going on in this land, is a glorious work of God. Part II. Showing the obligations that all are under, to acknowledge [sic], rejoice in and promote this work, and the great danger of the contrary. Part III. Showing in many instances, wherein the subjects, or zealous promoters, of this work have been injuriously blamed. Part IV. Showing what things are to be corrected or avoided, in promoting this work, or in our behaviour under it. Part V. showing positively what ought to be done to promote this work. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the Church of Christ at Northampton. ; [Two lines from Isaiah]Some thoughts concerning the present revival of religion in New-England, and the way in which it ought to be acknowledged and promoted, humbly offered to the publick, in a treatise on that subject. : In five parts; Part I. Shewing that the work that has of late been going on in this land, is a glorious work of God. Part II. Shewing the obligations that all are under, to acknowlege [sic], rejoice in and promote this work, and the great danger of the contrary. Part III. Shewing in many instances, wherein the subjects, or zealous promoters, of this work have been injuriously blamed. Part IV. Shewing what things are to be corrected or avoided, in promoting this work, or in our behaviour under it. Part V. shewing positively what ought to be done to promote this work. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the Church of Christ at Northampton. ; [Two lines from Isaiah]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland and T. Green, 1742
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
What a strange Device of the Devil is here, to over-throw all Christian Meekness and Gentleness, ⟨p. 205⟩and even all Show and Appearance of it, and to defile the Mouths of the Children of God, and to introduce the Language of common Sailors among the Followers of CHRIST, under a Cloak of high Sanctity and Zeal and Boldness for CHRIST! And it is a remarkable Instance of the Weakness of the human Mind, and how much too cunning the Devil is for us!
What a strange Device of the Devil is here, to over-throw all Christian Meekness and Gentleness, ⟨p. 205⟩and even all Shew and Appearance of it, and to defile the Mouths of the Children of God, and to introduce the Language of common Sailors among the Followers of CHRIST, under a Cloak of high Sanctity and Zeal and Boldness for CHRIST! And it is a remarkable Instance of the Weakness of the human Mind, and how much too cunning the Devil is for us!
The grand Defence of this Way of Talking is, that they say no more than what is true; they only speak the Truth without mincing the Matter; and that true Christians that have a great Sight of the Evil of Sin, and Acquaintance with their own Hearts know it to be true, and therefore won't be offended to hear such harsh Expressions made Use of concerning them and their Sins; 'tis only (say they) Hypocrites, or cold and dead Christians, that are provoked and feel their Enmity rise on such an Occasion.
But 'tis a grand Mistake to think that we may commonly use concerning one another all such Language as represents the worst of each other, according to strict Truth. 'Tis really true, that every Kind of Sin, & every Degree of it, is devilish and from Hell, and is cursed, hellish, and condemned or damned: And if Persons had a full Sight of their Hearts they would think no Terms too had for them; they would look like Beasts, like Serpents and like Devils to themselves; they would be at a loss for Language to express what they see in themselves, the worst Terms they could think of would seem as it were faint to represent what they see in themselves. But shall a Child